DURANGO, Colo.—Authorities say an investigator with the La Plata County Sheriff's Office is recovering after he was accidentally shot in the leg. Sheriff's spokesman Dan Bender tells The Durango Herald that investigator Tom Cowing's handgun discharged when it fell out of his car and bounced on the ground near Vallecito Reservoir on Friday morning. ...

There are no "accidents" where firearms are involved; only negligence. The investigator was negligent in having a round chambered and in failing to keep the firearm secure on his body. The media wants the public to believe that guns just "go off" when in fact it is very nearly always a human caused discharge..

the phoenix wrote:There are no "accidents" where firearms are involved; only negligence. The investigator was negligent in having a round chambered and in failing to keep the firearm secure on his body. The media wants the public to believe that guns just "go off" when in fact it is very nearly always a human caused discharge..

You may be right, there isn't enough detail in the article yet. If he was keeping it on the passenger seat, for example, and it had moved to between the seat and door while driving then fell when he opened the passenger door from outside, then yes, he was negligent.

But if it was secured on his body right up until the dept-issued holstering device broke and failed, then he was not necessarily negligent.

All modern firearms include safety features designed to prevent a discharge if the weapon is dropped.

He was doing something stupid with his gun, most likely reholstering while getting out of the vehicle and either dropped the gun and tried to catch it. Something anyone versed in firearms knows NOT to do. Or he shot himself in the process of reholstering.

Mistakes happen sometimes with firearms, but they are almost always because of the loose nut behind the gun, not one in it. I say this as a firearms instructor for law enforcement.

All modern firearms include safety features designed to prevent a discharge if the weapon is dropped.

He was doing something stupid with his gun, most likely reholstering while getting out of the vehicle and either dropped the gun and tried to catch it. Something anyone versed in firearms knows NOT to do. Or he shot himself in the process of reholstering.

Mistakes happen sometimes with firearms, but they are almost always because of the loose nut behind the gun, not one in it. I say this as a firearms instructor for law enforcement.

I agree with you that something else (less favorable) most likely happened, but that's his story and he's sticking to it.

the phoenix wrote:There are no "accidents" where firearms are involved; only negligence. The investigator was negligent in having a round chambered and in failing to keep the firearm secure on his body. The media wants the public to believe that guns just "go off" when in fact it is very nearly always a human caused discharge..

Not having a round in the chamber is stupid. That is a good way to get killed. Unless one comes up against a civil perp who will allow the officer the time needed to chamber a round.

the phoenix wrote:There are no "accidents" where firearms are involved; only negligence. The investigator was negligent in having a round chambered and in failing to keep the firearm secure on his body. The media wants the public to believe that guns just "go off" when in fact it is very nearly always a human caused discharge..

Not having a round in the chamber is stupid. That is a good way to get killed. Unless one comes up against a civil perp who will allow the officer the time needed to chamber a round.

It sounds like you might be the next person we read about. An accident waiting to happen.

the phoenix wrote:There are no "accidents" where firearms are involved; only negligence. The investigator was negligent in having a round chambered and in failing to keep the firearm secure on his body. The media wants the public to believe that guns just "go off" when in fact it is very nearly always a human caused discharge..

Not having a round in the chamber is stupid. That is a good way to get killed. Unless one comes up against a civil perp who will allow the officer the time needed to chamber a round.

It sounds like you might be the next person we read about. An accident waiting to happen.

I reference the second and third rules of gun safety. I have carried a gun, chamber loaded, or chambers, on hikes, in my vehicle, and in competition and never came close to a negligent discharge. It's actually pretty danged easy to not shoot oneself.

the phoenix wrote:There are no "accidents" where firearms are involved; only negligence. The investigator was negligent in having a round chambered and in failing to keep the firearm secure on his body. The media wants the public to believe that guns just "go off" when in fact it is very nearly always a human caused discharge..

You may be right, there isn't enough detail in the article yet. If he was keeping it on the passenger seat, for example, and it had moved to between the seat and door while driving then fell when he opened the passenger door from outside, then yes, he was negligent.

But if it was secured on his body right up until the dept-issued holstering device broke and failed, then he was not necessarily negligent.

You don't know yet.

If the department issues holstering device failed, he's still negligent. Do you climb a ladder before checking it for damage? Drive your car before seeing if the tires have tread? I repeat: There are no accidental discharges, only negligent ones.

Guns do NOT just "go off for no reason", despite what the anti 2nd Amendment media would have you believe.